Yes. Just like he did with Russia, Turkey, China and the neighboring states before. You know, basically, it’s the same “eating at everyone’s table”-game that was played by Mobutu, Siad Barre and other African dictators at the time. We know the outcome.

Karimov and his psychopathic daughter are basically dead already, and somewhere they know it. All they try to do is to win time. The EU want to tumble into that trap using bollocks fig leaves like “constructive engagement” and what all, fine. But then, in a number of years, they will weep and wonder and not understand why people in the region will hate the West by then.

“EU sactions have worked so far, at least to a certain degree.”

IMHO they worked in the sense that they were a public affront to the regime. But at the economic and military level, they had no effect.

EU sactions have worked so far, at least to a certain degree. Uzbek authorities have to understand that at the end of the day there are more than 200 countries EU deals with. Uzbekistan needs EU and the US more than EU and the US need Uzbekistan. Suspending EU sanctions and engaging the regime might be a good thing in a long run. One thing is important - Karimov’s regime should not use this a green light to oppress its own people further.

Just because they provide some crumbling infrastructure to EU and US military personnel doesn’t give them right to ask US and EU to mute their responses to what is going on inside the country. This is the most important thing about all of this “friendship”, “allies against terrorism”, etc.